Prologue

“Say hi to Avery Lee, an editor on the edge of burnout. Stuck in a high-pressure job with a tough boss, Mr. Choi, she's barely hanging on. But what she doesn’t know—everything’s about to change.”

 Avery Lee, small frame, dark hair, and pale skin, typed away like mad on her laptop. Her eyes were bloodshot, exhaustion written all over her face. The office lights buzzed above, cold and harsh, while rain slammed against the windows, matching the storm inside her. Take out boxes, empty cups, and crumpled papers were scattered across her desk—proof of all the all-nighters she’d been pulling.

A message appeared on her phone screen: "The deadline is 9 pm tonight. Please ensure the editing work is completed before you leave."

Mr. Choi. Of course. Her manager, the type who wanted nothing but blood, sweat, and perfection. His cold stare and sharp words could make even the toughest writer quake. Avery sighed, the sound swallowed by the endless clatter of her keyboard. "Just finish this, Avery," she whispered, eyes growing blurry. " Just finish..."

The air in the office was thick with the scent of stale coffee and desperation. Avery, a dedicated editor at a renowned publishing house, had been pushing herself to the brink. The recent management takeover had brought with it a wave of new pressures, and Mr. Choi, the new head of the editing team, was a force to be reckoned with. His demands were relentless, his expectations impossibly high.

She rubbed her aching temples, the throbbing pulse a constant reminder of the hours she'd been pouring into this project. The manuscript, a fantasy romance novel, lay open on her desk, a sea of red ink marking her corrections. Every sentence, “Mr. Choi. Of course. Her boss, the type who wanted nothing but blood, sweat, and perfection. His cold stare and sharp words could make even the toughest writer quake. Avery sighed, the sound swallowed by the endless clatter of her keyboard. ‘Just finish this, Avery,’ she whispered, eyes growing blurry. ‘Just finish...’”every word, scrutinized and dissected under the unforgiving glare of Mr. Choi's impossible standards.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over her. The world tilted, the keyboard blurring into an indistinguishable mass. A sharp pain pierced her temples, and then… nothing.

Avery awoke with a gasp, disoriented and confused. She found herself in an unfamiliar room, sunlight streaming through the windows. Panic clawed at her throat. Where was she? The last thing she remembered was the pounding rain, the throbbing headache, and then… darkness.

She blinked, trying to orient herself. The room was vast, opulent, with silk curtains pooling on the floor and furniture that seemed to whisper tales of forgotten wealth. A massive four-poster bed dominated the room, draped in a canopy of shimmering silk. This was no ordinary room.

"Madam, wake up," a voice startled her.

Avery turned to see a man standing by the bed, his face etched with concern. He had the physique of a soldier, his features sharp and alert. "Eric Chua, bodyguard," he introduced himself.

Avery, still groggy, could only stare at him. "So handsome," she murmured involuntarily.

Eric Chua's eyebrows shot up. "Madam, please behave yourself." He cleared his throat. "Mr. Tan is in the villa's dining room."

Eric left the room, leaving Avery alone with her bewilderment. "What? Who is Mr. Tan?" she mumbled to herself, sitting up slowly.

She looked around the room, taking in the luxurious surroundings. "Wasn't I working overtime in my office?" she whispered, her voice trembling." This place… Where am I?"

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***